4 years ago

4 years ago I had no idea how my life was about to change.

4 years ago I only had an inkling of what love really was.

4 years ago I had no idea what being tired really was.

4 years ago I became a mother.

Happy birthday, Blake! We love you!

A Brooklyn Halloween

As you can see, blogging has not been on my list of things to do for quite some time. And in all honesty, it still really isn't very high on my list of things to do. But this year's Halloween was too cute not to document.

Halloween festivities began the Saturday before Halloween. Our ward had its annual Harvest Festival and two superheroes flew in just in time to make an appearance.

Super Blake

Super Powers:

-throwing lightning bolts

-ability to fly

-endless appetite

-endless energy

Kryptonite:

-bedtime

Super Trevor

Super Powers:

-ability to fly

-ear-piercing screech

-super-human drool

Kryptonite:

-diaper rash

-teething

Not pictured: Super Mom

Super Powers: functioning on no sleep, making t-shirt capes, super-human strength (as evidenced by hauling a stroller up and down subway steps)

Kryptonite: chocolate

On October 1st, I made the mistake of telling Blake that Halloween was this month. He was pretty disappointed when he woke up every morning only to find out it wasn't Halloween yet. Finally October 31st arrived and our day was filled with tons of Halloween fun!

Preschool Party:

Trick-or-Treating:

We walked home with enough to candy to last us a few weeks. 

And the boys were asleep by 8pm. Perfect ending to a great Halloween!

Letters

Dear street solicitor,

I think it's great that you are trying to help the environment. Personally, I feel like I help the environment a lot because I do not own a car and use public transportation everywhere I go. I also use reusable water bottles, and only do laundry once a week. I do let the water run when I brush my teeth, so I could improve on that. But I want you to think for a moment. You see me approaching you and I have an infant strapped to my chest, a 3 year old holding onto my hand, and a stroller filled with Target bags because I bought way too much stuff and am now tasked with getting it all home. Please do not try to talk to me. It's not your fault I bought too much stuff. That's on me. But I am in no position to have any sort of intelligent conversation with you. My main goal is to get my children and my belongings onto a train that will take us home as quickly as possible. That's what I'm focused on. I cannot stray from this focus. If my attention is diverted for even a second, before I know it I will have a screaming baby and a tantruming 3 year old. I gotta keep these kids happy and sane for the next 30 minutes while we get home. Yes, I think everyone should be environmentally conscience. I think everyone could do more to help the planet. But right now you can just get out of my way and not be offended when all I can muster is a frown smile and shaking my head "no" as I pass you by. I promise I'll pick up some litter at the playground. And I'll teach my kids to be kind to the earth. But right now I just need to catch the next train home.

Kindly,
leave me alone


Dear dog owners,

Please pick up your dog's feces. Yep, it's gross. That's one of the main reasons I think I'll never have a dog. I can't deal with more poop. Especially dog poop. I wish I was brave enough to stop you and ask you to pick it up when you just walk away from your dog's business. But I'm not. So be a nice person and pick it up so we don't have to play "dodge the poop" on our way home.

Sincerely,
tired of poop


Dear overly affectionate teenagers,

I know. You're "in love". But  no one wants to see it. And I really don't enjoy trying to explain to my 3 year old what you're doing. So show some class.

Sincerely,
wanting you to get a room but think that would be highly inappropriate for someone your age


Dear summer,

Please don't be unbearable this year. Please.

Sincerely,
not ready to sweat 24/7

Brothers

I wasn't really afraid that I wouldn't be able to love Trevor as much as I love Blake. I just wasn't sure how I was going to be able to show each child how much I loved them. It's kind of impossible to devote 100% of yourself to 2 things at the same time. There are times when I don't do a very good job of showing Blake how much he is loved. And of course there are times when Trevor and Blake both want to be held and I simply don't have enough arms to do that. 

But I love both of these boys more than anything in this world. I love to hear them laugh together. I love it when Blake runs over to a fussy Trevor and gently calms him by saying, "Shhhh it's okay, Trevor. I'm here." I love when Trevor sneezes and I hear Blake say, "Bless you, Trevor!" 

I hope they know how much they are loved. And I hope more than anything that they can be close all their lives. These 2 little boys make me so very tired. But they make me so very happy.

Seeing New York- Cherry Blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

I've been to the BBG (that's what the cool kids call it) a few times since moving to Brooklyn, but I've never been able to see the cherry blossoms. I missed it by a few days last year and was so bummed. I vowed to not miss it this year. And it did not disappoint!

Rinka and Trevor. 2 weeks apart. So stinkin' cute!

The Cherry Blossom festival will definitely be a tradition each year!

A Birthday and a Bunny

I kind of fell off the blogging wagon for a while there. I'm finding that what little time I had to blog pre-Trevor is now gone. When one kid is happy, the other is not. Or they're both unhappy. Or they're both happy but momma's so tired she can't keep her eyes open, let alone construct a coherent thought.

But life goes on and must be documented.

Blake turned 3! After about 2 months of planning, Ali and I pulled off a successful Easter egg hunt/birthday celebration for Lola and Blake. Now Blake thinks he has to take his Easter basket to every birthday party he goes to.

After a wonderful birthday party, Blake woke up to a visit from the Easter bunny. Well, he actually woke up to a mom saying, "Hurry! Hurry! We're going to be late for church! Here, hold your brother so I can take a picture of you in your matching outfits. Smile! No, not a goofy face. Say cheese!"

When we got home from church, Blake searched for his Easter basket and was pretty pleased with what the Easter bunny left for him.